Carl Bernstein's McCarthy obsession

Veteran journalist Carl Bernstein has used his past two appearances on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” - Tuesday and last Wednesday - to compare the right wing of the Republican Party that he blames for the government shutdown to 1950s-era politician Joe McCarthy, known for a witch hunt accusing prominent Americans of being communists. His references were so frequent that it prompted show host Joe Scarborough to suggest ringing a bell every time the word “McCarthy” left Bernstein’s lips.

Here are all the times he said it:

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- “Eric Cantor and his Republican Party are the most dangerous demagogic force in American politics since Joe McCarthy.” Oct. 2

- “I think Joe McCarthy’s historic role … I think they’re very comparable, because I think they heel not from fact, but from wild accusations.” Oct. 2

- “Just as they’re the angry sons and daughters of Joe McCarthy. I think you’ve got to go back to the analogy.” Oct. 2

- “I compared it last week here to McCarthy, Joe McCarthy, McCarthyism. This is about the Republican Party and what it’s going to be. Is it going to be a fact-based, philosophical argument in our political system or is it going to be a nihilistic, hateful, asymmetrical in terms of facts and the truth part of the party as in Joe McCarthy?” Oct. 8

- “…call it the McCarthy wing, call it the Eric Cantor wing, whatever you want call it, has been gearing up for this.” Oct. 8

- “I think it’s important because it’s the only comparable time since Joe McCarthy we’ve had this in the Republican Party.” Oct. 8

- “It’s about demagoguery and the ability of demagogues, back to the McCarthy era, to get their message out and drive the debate.” Oct. 8

- “It might not bring the party down. Like McCarthy, it might work.” Oct. 8